Reaching Beyond The Moron Analysis

Reaching Beyond the “Moron”: Eugenics Control of Secondary Disability Groups (2009) by Gerald V. O’Brien and Meghan E. Bundy focused on The American Eugenics Movement and Eugenics Control. Eugenics, the approach of controlling a mass population through aborting, sterilizing and eliminating a group of people to procreate in hopes of eliminating or reducing their kind within society. O’Brien and Bundy’s article concentrate on the history of eugenics aiming to individuals with mental illness, epilepsy and physical impairments. It shows fundamental issues in society back then and today relating towards the oppression of individuals with disabilities within our society.

The Eugenics Movement began inserting itself into the American culture. Associations,

for example, the Eugenics Record Office (ERO), began springing up to do research into this field. This development increased by the use of examples done by a man named Gregor Mendel. "If environmental modifications could improve the status of "unfit" individuals, then a positive evolutionary path could be fostered through the development if such modification" (O'Brien and Bundy, p.157) Mendel reported that good genetic traits are controlled by qualities given by the individuals parents. The Eugenics associations’ utilized Mendel's data as backup and began looking into what they accepted was a significant issue. Meetings were taken place, medical histories and generations of families were being investigated, and individuals were on a watch. This was the beginning of a strong Eugenics Movement. Harry Laughlin, leader of the Eugenics Record Office asserted that hereditary imperfection was being given to the United States through outside nations (O'Brien and Bundy, p.155).
Mental illness was highly looked down upon and was believed to be a hereditary and environmental case. Eugenicist still proceed on giving those with Mental illnesses the IQ Test believing “ the intelligence test led most to believe that feeble-mindedness was being accurately measured, whereas insanity was much more speculative” (O'Brien and Bundy, p.161). Those individuals with mental illness where force to stay in state-run institutions and be sterilized. They had no capability of meeting other humans to procreate.
Its base originated from the thought that human race could be "fit" by disposing of its undesirable traits and the desirable traits could be duplicated.

Ones physical appearance, IQ Test, and social limitations could be controlled in people generally such as t Charles Darwin's development of natural selection. Through time, this perspective has introduced America and the World in a moral fight to create the best population of humanity. The development of the Intelligence Test (IQ exam) played a large part of Eugenic history. “As on might speculate, it was this large group of ‘higher functioning’ feeble-minded persons who were said to pose the most threat to the community” (O'Brien and Bundy, p.158). Although, the Intelligence Test was developed in France, United States quickly adapted to this strategy to determine and point out the “unfit” in society. The more this test was being used the more people they found out were unfit and procreating in the

country.
Eugenics is a topic of interest I was always fascinated by. Having the opportunity to learn about the issues and studies of Eugenics has broadened my horizon on how I think about my presence in society today. Have not learned about Eugenics in past history classes as I majored history during undergraduate school. Articles like Race in America (2003) by Peter Quinn and Reaching Beyond the “Moron”: Eugenics Control of Secondary Disability Groups (2009) by Gerald V. O’Brien and Meghan E. Bundy give great insight on Eugenics from a historical standpoint.
Reading both Race in America (2003) by Peter Quinn and Reaching Beyond the “Moron”: Eugenics Control of Secondary Disability Groups (2009) by Gerald V.

O’Brien and Meghan E. Bundy article I was very shock and disturbed by the way these so called “researchers”, “doctors”, “scientist”, and “leaders” thought. We are so brainwashed by how great our nation is but little do we know what goes on behind the scenes the created this so called “great nation”. Eugenics is not okay nor is it helpful.

The idea of humans being examined and categorized and “fit” and “unfit” to be hereditarily purified sounds crazy. It is one thing to try to eliminate medical issues for the better of our society using medical treatment but to sterilize or kill of those with mental issues, physical issues harmfully is very brutal and unjust. Including qualities for knowledge or physicality would be an evil entity to our race.

Eugenics during the time period of Nazism was cruel and unforgivable. An issue that was held under the supreme court of justice like Buck vs. Bell (1927) sounded like something I would see in a horror movie. To basically neglect human rights and sterilize a seventeen-year-old girl because society considered her to be “unfit” is just not right. In addition, to state that “ three generations of imbeciles are enough” shows people like Holmes have no sympathy (Quinn, p. 1). I wonder if these higher power people where in the position of those who were considered “unfit” if they would act the

same.
Eugenics may have been able to radically change what was recognized as the best race in society but it was performed in a bad way even though some people may differ. Today some may say Genetics is the new form of Eugenics. Although I believe in generic breeding for those who are less fortunate have given birth to a child natural. The idea of race cleansing in America and many other nations in the world has span far back that I could have imagined.
Both article affected my ways of thinking about the issue and the lives of children, adolescents and/or adults with disabilities. Some individuals may be born with a disability and other may develop their disability overtime. Who has the right to determine whether a person should live or not because they are unable to serve their society the same purpose as someone who is not disabled. My views on Eugenics have remained the same if not I got a lot my devastated only to gain more information on the brutality of what the Eugenics Movement was about. Issues of Eugenics is a topic that should be introduced in High School so students could be informed and have a better understanding on issues regarding people with disability.